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Banded Sea Krait

Did you know banded sea kraits are closely related to cobras? The banded sea krait, also known as the yellow-lipped sea krait, lives in coastal waters in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Banded sea kraits are amphibious — and have even been observed climbing trees!

 

Banded sea kraits are striking creatures that feature greyish-blue bodies with black stripes along their long, skinny backs.  They’re sometimes referred to as yellow-lipped sea kraits due to a distinctive yellow stripe which runs along their upper lips and nose and around their eyes.  

The banded sea krait prefers shallow, coral habitats and is often found off the coast of Australia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Their bright coloration may seem attention-seeking, but these creatures are often found hiding under rocks or in small crevices of coral reefs. Their skinny long bodies allow them to wiggle into small spaces where they hunt for eels, their main source of food. Luckily for these kraits, their tails look very similar to their heads — a sneaky defense tactic which can trick hungry predators like tiger sharks and sea eagles into thinking they have two venomous ends! This tricky pattern protects them while they’re hunting.  

Banded sea kraits are venomous — their fangs contain a venom that inhibits the swimming and breathing abilities of their prey, allowing them to feed more easily. After feeding, the banded sea krait must venture out of the water and onto land to avoid predators, due to impaired swimming ability.  

 

 

Although banded sea kraits are not currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, the destruction of coastal ecosystems will threaten banded sea kraits in the future. Because banded sea kraits are amphibious, securing their future means protecting both the land and the sea. The climate crisis has the potential to cause sea level rise which could destroy the coastal ecosystems and habitat banded sea kraits rely on to digest their food, mate, and lay their eggs. Additionally, increasing ocean temperatures threatens coral reefs, which may also threaten this species.  

 

 

The climate crisis is wreaking havoc on our oceans and delicate coral reefs. One of the ways we can protect our climate is by stopping offshore drilling — a dirty and dangerous business that is polluting our oceans and accelerating the climate crisis. Oceana is continuing to work to protect our coasts and oceans from the threat of offshore drilling, while also promoting responsibly sourced offshore wind, rebuilding fisheries as a climate-friendly source of protein, and reducing the use of unnecessary single-use plastics that contribute to climate change during every stage of their life cycle. 

 

 

 

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